DAN A4-SFX: The smallest gaming case in the world

@QuantimBraced:
Bigger cases like the M1 or other LianLi cases, have the space to use vertical female clip holder on the vertical sides and horizontal female clip holder on vertical sides. In an vertical clip holder the clip has 1-2mm space to moving up and down and in an horizontal clip holder 1-2mm left and right. The A4-SFX has only vertical clip holder becuase there is no space for horizontal ones. I attached the bottom screws so that nobody can say that the A4-SFX will offer a bad clearance quality. And the sidepanels will finish 100% with the topside.
Acrylic sidepanles will be very expansive, because every of the thousand holes must be drilled seperat. For metal you can bunch them out.
 
dondan said:
@QuantimBraced:
Bigger cases like the M1 or other LianLi cases, have the space to use vertical female clip holder on the vertical sides and horizontal female clip holder on vertical sides. In an vertical clip holder the clip has 1-2mm space to moving up and down and in an horizontal clip holder 1-2mm left and right. The A4-SFX has only vertical clip holder becuase there is no space for horizontal ones. I attached the bottom screws so that nobody can say that the A4-SFX will offer a bad clearance quality. And the sidepanels will finish 100% with the topside.
Acrylic sidepanles will be very expansive, because every of the thousand holes must be drilled seperat. For metal you can bunch them out.
Click to expand...

Ah, I understand. Thanks for your explanation. Is there no other way to solve the problem? Out of curiosity, how much bigger would the case be if you were to include the horizontal clip holders? I feel like completely toolless panels will compliment the case's minimalist approach. And also, I have a feeling that 90% of people will not screw in the panels, unless they don't intend to ever clean their systems.

And I'm not usually one for showmanship, but I'd totally pay for acrylic panels on this case. The components are so well exposed that I think it would just look amazing, especially the graphics card. But I understand it would be completely impractical to mass produce. I'm guessing both panels will probably cost around $150. I wish there was a site that I could give the dimensions to and have it custom made.
 
I think with acrylic panels heating would be an issue. Also, it's not that dan doesn't want to put horizontal clips, there simply is NO room on the case to add them on. You can probably get a dremel or a saw and cut along the air holes and then smooth it out and place a piece of acrylic using an adhesive or bonding agent for a clean look, but the chassis is so small the gpu will be starved for cold air
 
QuantumBraced said:
And I'm not usually one for showmanship, but I'd totally pay for acrylic panels on this case. The components are so well exposed that I think it would just look amazing, especially the graphics card. But I understand it would be completely impractical to mass produce. I'm guessing both panels will probably cost around $150. I wish there was a site that I could give the dimensions to and have it custom made.
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I also like the idea of acrylic side panels, but realistically this is something that we'll have to do ourselves given the high cost of manufacturing with perforation and small number of users that want this. Fortunately, this is a mod that you can do yourself!
 
QuantumBraced said:
And I'm not usually one for showmanship, but I'd totally pay for acrylic panels on this case. The components are so well exposed that I think it would just look amazing, especially the graphics card. But I understand it would be completely impractical to mass produce. I'm guessing both panels will probably cost around $150. I wish there was a site that I could give the dimensions to and have it custom made.
Click to expand...

There is at least one site like this Laser Cutting and Engraving – Your Product Designs Custom Made By Our Designers and Robots, Fast - Ponoko. You need to supply the design file, but you could get this laser cut. If included in the design file, the ventilation holes could be cut too. Although I'm not sure how good an acrylic window would look with the same amount of ventilation the standard side panel provides.
 
Nice case. Just built myself a full tower rig. and bought the Brix pro w/ eGPU. So I don't see myself building something like this in the near future. but nice case either way.
 
Just got referred to see this. Stunning case, even better looking than the NCase. Nice job, maybe I'll consider picking one up in the future.
 
Lazer1337 said:
I think with acrylic panels heating would be an issue. Also, it's not that dan doesn't want to put horizontal clips, there simply is NO room on the case to add them on. You can probably get a dremel or a saw and cut along the air holes and then smooth it out and place a piece of acrylic using an adhesive or bonding agent for a clean look, but the chassis is so small the gpu will be starved for cold air
Click to expand...

I understand. I'm thinking about what could possibly be a future toolless solution. Hinge doors may be one option, although that would further inflate the price. There's gotta be some way to prop up the panels without using those bottom flaps, I mean they are just never going to be used by anyone. I think the issue is, and correct me if I'm wrong, that Dan is constrained by Lian Li-s manufacturing process, like he can't do anything that they don't do, so any case that uses them will basically look like one of their cases. If it wasn't for this constraint, really the sky would be the limit with design. I wish he could contract a 3D printing service, hopefully in the near future that will be possible. Right now it's probably still crazy expensive. And speaking of 3D printing, I wonder if it's possible to order a 3D print of acryllic panels from somewhere...
 
Has anyone considered using the Asetek 545LC AIO cooler with this? The block is (I believe) 35mm thick. May well be able to fit in provided a mITX GPU is used.

Dondan, would you put your recent water-cooled CPU images up on your website? Good luck with the 'hopefully' soon release!
 
Hermit2001 said:
Has anyone considered using the Asetek 545LC AIO cooler with this? The block is (I believe) 35mm thick. May well be able to fit in provided a mITX GPU is used.

Dondan, would you put your recent water-cooled CPU images up on your website? Good luck with the 'hopefully' soon release!
Click to expand...

That block might fit, but are you going to put a fan on it? A slim 25mm rad + slim 12mm thick fan is as thick as you'll get in that GPU section of the case.
 
jb1 said:
That block might fit, but are you going to put a fan on it? A slim 25mm rad + slim 12mm thick fan is as thick as you'll get in that GPU section of the case.
Click to expand...

It would need a fan for sure. The thinnest 92mm fan I can find is the Noctua NF-A9x14 (14mm th.) which brings you to 49mm. Might be possible to recess the fan inside the body as others have done (Laine's Luna update 5: Laine's Luna), would save you only a couple mm. Guess thats a no-go then!
 
Hermit2001 said:
It would need a fan for sure. The thinnest 92mm fan I can find is the Noctua NF-A9x14 (14mm th.) which brings you to 49mm. Might be possible to recess the fan inside the body as others have done (Laine's Luna update 5: Laine's Luna), would save you only a couple mm. Guess thats a no-go then!
Click to expand...

I think the thing to do would be use a 14mm fan + a 25mm rad in a custom loop.

Using an ITX GPU and SFX (not L) PSU you could place the rad next to the GPU, and the pump under the PSU where there SSDs would sit (EK sells one that would fit there). I'm still looking as to which reservoir I could possibly fit.
 
In anticipation, I've narrowed down my CPU cooler to either the NH-L9i or LP53. I'm pretty stuck between these since it's a trade off between cooler temps and noise. I do like the looks of the NH-L9i with a Gentle Typhoon better though.

7BDE67BE-F902-4752-8F68-1E030F790362_zps0ae0d61e.jpg


I'm also guessing it won't fit in the A4 with the screw heads sitting on top? Old pic for reference
 
As someone who is using the LP53 on one system, and the NH-L9i on another, I have to say the cooling performance is significantly better on the LP53. A 4790K with no overclocking got too hot for my tastes with the L9i, but performs great with the LP53.
 
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jb1 said:
I think the thing to do would be use a 14mm fan + a 25mm rad in a custom loop.

Using an ITX GPU and SFX (not L) PSU you could place the rad next to the GPU, and the pump under the PSU where there SSDs would sit (EK sells one that would fit there). I'm still looking as to which reservoir I could possibly fit.
Click to expand...

Interesting. Which pump is it that you would recommend?

Just chewing the cud on the 545LC: while I think the matched fan is the Asetek Vapochill Extreme Micro 92mm, the Akasa AK-FN076 80m Slim may fit recessed in (its already only 10mm thick). That would get you maybe 35+7mm = 42mm thick. Could work.

*EDIT: just seen an old post of Dondan's where he states the GPU chamber width is 47mm.*


Anyway its just a thought. Looking forward to seeing this case out there and some interesting builds with it.
 
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Hermit2001 said:
Interesting. Which pump is it that you would recommend?

Just chewing the cud on the 545LC: while I think the matched fan is the Asetek Vapochill Extreme Micro 92mm, the Akasa AK-FN076 80m Slim may fit recessed in (its already only 10mm thick). That would get you maybe 35+7mm = 42mm thick. Could work.


Anyway its just a thought. Looking forward to seeing this case out there and some interesting builds with it.
Click to expand...

This is the pump I was thinking could go below an SFX psu in place of the SSDs
EK-DDC 3.2 PWM (12V PWM pump) – EK Webshop

I measured it before and thought it would work, but I would check again!
 
Could work! My only concern would be noise, these don't have power management, correct?
 
I don't think they have PWM, though you could use something like Noctua's low noise adapters on it as if it was a fan, I'm sure.
 
Sorry, but did I miss it? When is this coming out or is it out already? debating if I want to sell my newly build rig to build this one.

EDIT: nevermind.... I guess its going to be late this year.
 
Can author or anybody else please make even more smaller version of this case? Without space for 2.5 hdds any other hdds just m2 ssd behind itx motherboard, only space for mini 970 gpu and radeon nano, also fit only for true small sfx like silverstone sfx sx600g, no need to reroute power cable, no need for frontal jacks and usbs if they require more mm from case etc. It won't be pretty for some, but it would be absolute and non negotiable portability!

I know design stage long past, so don't whine about it. I'm talking a version for NEW, maybe NEXT case.


wzwqQxx.jpg
 
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Vexel said:
Can author or anybody else please make even more smaller version of this case? Without space for 2.5 hdds any other hdds just m2 ssd behind itx motherboard, only space for mini 970 gpu and radeon nano, also fit only for true small sfx like silverstone sfx sx600g, no need to reroute power cable, no need for frontal jacks and usbs if they require more mm from case etc. It won't be pretty for some, but it would absolute and non negotiable portability!

I know design stage long past, so don't whine about it. I'm talking a version for NEW, maybe NEXT case.


wzwqQxx.jpg
Click to expand...
1. This wouldn't work with any of the modular SFX power supplies, unless you don't mind the cables hanging out the side of the case (112mm width is not enough for the PSU + modular cables).
2. having the AC cable and PSU exposed on the side of the case is terribly ugly, and would basically make it unmarketable.

If you really want something like this, I think your only realistic option is to make it yourself.
 
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danij3l said:
Hi Dan,
I was trying to figure out how to make a mounting bracket for two 2.5" HDD with max thickness of 9.5mm to be mounted in A4 when using SFX-L but there is just no way to do it without you help. (don't know how is it mounted on to the case it self)

Is there a chance you could provide the drawing (same one as with 15mm drives just slimmer or even better is it an option for you to sell it as an accessory - if there is enough interest)

Also if you can give a GO or NO GO on 390 NITRO in the case ...
2016-02-10 15.44.36.jpg


2016-02-10 15.45.38.jpg


2016-02-10 15.34.35.jpg


P.S. already have all the hardware to go in to A4, just need to get this thing sorted and of course get the case (currently using CM Elite 130 as place holder)
Click to expand...

Can you please post bigger images? I don't think I can see the details for it to work.

/sarcasm

God damn it, is it so hard to resize the images so that people can properly use them? Nowadays any img upload service can resize them for you, so you don't even have to use paint. And even then, it wasn't something too painful to do. Think about the others and stop being so selfish.
 
I think it would be great if the case had a very small and discreet power button on the back. That would add to the clean look. Honestly, how often do you use the power button. I think I press mine once a year. Some premium motherboards even come with power/reset in the I/O panel, like the Impact VIII. I think it's worth considering for version 2.

Also, when Type-C becomes the standard, could we switch out the front USB port with a Type-C or would it not fit? I'm thinking since Type-C is smaller, adapters should be able to fit. I want this case to last me thru the ages.
 
QuantumBraced said:
I think it would be great if the case had a very small and discreet power button on the back. That would add to the clean look. Honestly, how often do you use the power button. I think I press mine once a year. Some premium motherboards even come with power/reset in the I/O panel, like the Impact VIII. I think it's worth considering for version 2.

Also, when Type-C becomes the standard, could we switch out the front USB port with a Type-C or would it not fit? I'm thinking since Type-C is smaller, adapters should be able to fit. I want this case to last me thru the ages.
Click to expand...

I think the original plan was to have the power button in the back but people didn't like it. He wasn't even going to put a USB port on the front but people didn't like it.
 
Vexel said:
Can author or anybody else please make even more smaller version of this case? Without space for 2.5 hdds any other hdds just m2 ssd behind itx motherboard, only space for mini 970 gpu and radeon nano, also fit only for true small sfx like silverstone sfx sx600g, no need to reroute power cable, no need for frontal jacks and usbs if they require more mm from case etc. It won't be pretty for some, but it would be absolute and non negotiable portability!

I know design stage long past, so don't whine about it. I'm talking a version for NEW, maybe NEXT case.
Click to expand...

On the first view a A4-SFX shrink for ITX GPU make sense, but on the second it will change nothing. The only good PSU orientation is with the fan pointing to the front side. This will result in W: 130mm H: 200 D: 240 = 6,2L. So we are able to save 1L. I think this is no shrink worth. Furthermore reducing the depth of around 7mm will not help that the case looks much smaller, because you will really see the increased width. The relation between width, height and depth is very important that a case looks small. E.g. a Steam Machine style case could be from the liter value smaller as the A4 but it will look bigger because of the huge surface. So the only combination for a A4 ITX GPU version will work with a 1U Flex PSU. This will result in 5L.
 
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dondan said:
On the first view a A4-SFX shrink for ITX GPU make sense, but on the second it will change nothing. The only good PSU orientation is with the fan pointing to the front side. This will result in W: 130mm H: 200 D: 240 = 6,2L. So we are able to save 1L. I think this is no shrink worth. Furthermore reducing the depth of around 7mm will not help that the case looks much smaller, because you will really see the increased width. The relation between width, height and depth is very important that a case looks small. E.g. a Steam Machine style case could be from the liter value smaller as the A4 but it will look bigger because of the huge surface. So the only combination for a A4 ITX GPU version will work with a 1U Flex PSU. This will result in 5L.
Click to expand...

Dondan has an eye for aesthetics, I like! :D
 
Dan, please correct me if I am mistaken, but it was my understanding (long since gone from the first post) that the first version of the A4 would fit SFX and SFX-L PSUs, and a future version would support a HD-PLEX 250 or similar PSU with possibly an external brick in an even smaller enclosure.
 
dondan said:
So the only combination for a A4 ITX GPU version will work with a 1U Flex PSU. This will result in 5L.
Click to expand...

Didn't know such small PSUs existed, it appears there are even 400watt powered 80 gold plus PSUs of that kind are available. PSU calculator shows that low energy non overclocked i7 cpu and single 970 gpu itx build needs only around 350 watts to operate, so its more than enough. Maybe, A4 dan ver2 extreme compact will come in far far future, lets hope)))
 
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Vexel said:
Didn't know such small PSUs existed, it appears there are even 400watt powered 80 gold plus PSUs of that kind are available. PSU calculator shows that for low energy non overclocked i7 cpu and single 970 gpu itx build needs only around 350 watts to operate, so its more than enough. Maybe, A4 dan ver2 extreme compact will come in far far future, lets hope)))
Click to expand...

Maybe the 1U PSU goes BETWEEN the MB & GPU…?!?
 
Lazer1337 said:
I think the original plan was to have the power button in the back but people didn't like it. He wasn't even going to put a USB port on the front but people didn't like it.
Click to expand...

Really?? I think it would look much better. In fact, I think it would be awesome if the USB extension was on the back too, but then it probably won't fit. The front needs to be completely clean IMO. That big power button on the front just looks out of place, it'll never be pressed. Reset buttons disappeared, it's time power buttons were miniturized and moved to the back, or better yet to the I/O panel for enthusiast systems. This case is already so forward thinking, I think that would be cool for V2. Also for V2, a USB Type-C on the front (or back). The only power button I have respect for is the original IBM PC red switch.
 
What a terrific looking case! I'm torn between this and the NCase, both seem great. Thankfully I won't need to decide until Kaby Lake drops later this year and I rotate my current Haswell/GTX 970 rig into something tiny for the living room.

Hopefully the A4 will be out by then!
 
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Hi everybody.
I have to apologize that I was so much inactive the last weeks.

Here is a current state of the project:
Currently, I'm in process of doing the CE certification for the case.
Therefore I have to check two standards EN 60950: 1 and EN 50581. Before somebody ask, there is no need of checking the case against EN 50581 (electromagnetic interference), because I only sell a case without components.
The test according to EN 50581 I will do by myself, because I only need all RoHS reports and declarations of the supplier. Today I have all of them together. The test according to EN 60950: 1 will be done by a certified company, because standardized test stands are required.
To get the best offer I send many inquires to test laboratories in the last weeks. The prices range is between 2500-5400 € in Germany. The test labs include the TÜV Süd, TÜV Rheinland and other accredited testing laboratory as SGS. I also have an offer of a Lian Li of an accredited testing laboratory in Taiwan (900 €). I chose the testing laboratory in Taiwan, because Lian Li works with them together for many years, the company is specialized to EN 60950: 1 and the financial loss for me with an unsuccessful crowdfunding campaign is ok.
The test takes about 3-4 weeks, and will be initiated by me next week.


Next steps:
- Funding DAN Cases. This I will do parallel to the tests. Duration is around 20 days.
- Creation of the Kickstarter campaign. I decided against, because Kickstarter gives better option to design the campaign page. Startnext allows only one video + FAQ. Duration is around 2 weeks.

I hope that I can manage to launch the campaign end of April to launch the campaign.


Crowdfunding campaign details:
- Duration is 1 month
- 1500 available cases
- Color can be freely selected between black and silver
- Min. Amount was raised by me to 500 pieces to maintain the price.
- The price of housing will be between 220-230 € shipping is between 6-33€
- if more than 1,000 housing sold I generate enough capital to make future production runs possible


What happens if the campaign will be successful?
- Acceptance of larger orders after the campaign of B2B partners.
- Start the order by LianLi and 3M.
- Registration by the EAR (Electrical Equipment Register) in Germany with Take-E-Away. A service provider for the registration and administration activities with the EAR and me.
- Establish a bill and shipping system
- Production and delivery/Import duration will be 2-3 months.
- Delivery of housing


Project statistics
- Forum thread hits 1.4 million
- Applicant on the subscription list: 4329


You see there is still much to do. I am alone and make the project next to my normal work, therefore every step will take longer as for other project. But I try to make it as good as possible.
I you looking for a case now, buy yourself a temporary solution this will make the waiting time more
comfortable .

Thank you for your patience.

With best regards

Daniel
 
dondan said:
Hi everybody.
I have to apologize that I was so much inactive the last weeks.

Here is a current state of the project:
Currently, I'm in process of doing the CE certification for the case.
Therefore I have to check two standards EN 60950: 1 and EN 50581. Before somebody ask, there is no need of checking the case against EN 50581 (electromagnetic interference), because I only sell a case without components.
The test according to EN 50581 I will do by myself, because I only need all RoHS reports and declarations of the supplier. Today I have all of them together. The test according to EN 60950: 1 will be done by a certified company, because standardized test stands are required.
To get the best offer I send many inquires to test laboratories in the last weeks. The prices range is between 2500-5400 € in Germany. The test labs include the TÜV Süd, TÜV Rheinland and other accredited testing laboratory as SGS. I also have an offer of a Lian Li of an accredited testing laboratory in Taiwan (900 €). I chose the testing laboratory in Taiwan, because Lian Li works with them together for many years, the company is specialized to EN 60950: 1 and the financial loss for me with an unsuccessful crowdfunding campaign is ok.
The test takes about 3-4 weeks, and will be initiated by me next week.


Next steps:
- Funding DAN Cases. This I will do parallel to the tests. Duration is around 20 days.
- Creation of the Kickstarter campaign. I decided against, because Kickstarter gives better option to design the campaign page. Startnext allows only one video + FAQ. Duration is around 2 weeks.

I hope that I can manage to launch the campaign end of April to launch the campaign.


Crowdfunding campaign details:
- Duration is 1 month
- 1500 available cases
- Color can be freely selected between black and silver
- Min. Amount was raised by me to 500 pieces to maintain the price.
- The price of housing will be between 220-230 € shipping is between 6-33€
- if more than 1,000 housing sold I generate enough capital to make future production runs possible


What happens if the campaign will be successful?
- Acceptance of larger orders after the campaign of B2B partners.
- Start the order by LianLi and 3M.
- Registration by the EAR (Electrical Equipment Register) in Germany with Take-E-Away. A service provider for the registration and administration activities with the EAR and me.
- Establish a bill and shipping system
- Production and delivery/Import duration will be 2-3 months.
- Delivery of housing


Project statistics
- Forum thread hits 1.4 million
- Applicant on the subscription list: 4329


You see there is still much to do. I am alone and make the project next to my normal work, therefore every step will take longer as for other project. But I try to make it as good as possible.
I you looking for a case now, buy yourself a temporary solution this will make the waiting time more
comfortable .

Thank you for your patience.

With best regards

Daniel
Click to expand...

Wow thanks for the update! What is the price going to be in USD?
 
Well probably around $250, based on current exchange rates and not including shipping.

So if all goes according to plan, 1500 lucky people will have this puppy in their hands by late summer/early fall. I feel like a little kid eagerly waiting for christmas! Keep up the good work, I am pretty confident the crowdfunding will be a success.
 
illram said:
Well probably around $250, based on current exchange rates and not including shipping.

So if all goes according to plan, 1500 lucky people will have this puppy in their hands by late summer/early fall. I feel like a little kid eagerly waiting for christmas! Keep up the good work, I am pretty confident the crowdfunding will be a success.
Click to expand...

Well if that's the case then that sounds pretty reasonable. So excited!
 
Thanks for the status upate, can't wait! One question though, why can you sell 1500 cases max? There could be a lot more potential customers and it would be a shame if this was sold out after three days.

Edit: Sorry, found answer on a german forum. Dan said he would be happy with 20% of the people subscribed buying. Furthermore, it will be lots of work because every case has to be handled individually.

Just hoping that everyone who wants a case will get one :)
 
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